Stress eating (D3 LE Kitchen)

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Summoning all her diplomatic powers
"He seems to...have an appreciation for Combine culture."
Clearing her throat

"Your story story sounds like it has much scope for the investigation of different themes. I wonder if they will reach the tomb and what will happen if they do?"
Judging she had consumed exactly 50% of the eggs Yori pushes her plate forward, indicating any more was for Mei.
"I did not immediately judge you as a reader, but I am satisfied to be proven wrong. It seems we shall have to exchange our current works, with Richard's approval, in the future."

Mei knew an innuendo when she heard one.

"If you haven't yet I'm sure he would be happy to do a cultural exchange with you." She said with a wink.

"I would be happy to pass them on to you, there are four books in total from what I can tell but you still have a lot of issues of your story to read. I'm not an avid reader, most of the time I just read technical manuals and spec sheets for mechs and various systems. Something about a man covered in blades standing before green and purple landscape really captivated me. What kind of stuff do you normally read?"

With the plate passed to her Mei began to dig in.

[Yori Hakamada]

Mei knew an innuendo when she heard one.

"If you haven't yet I'm sure he would be happy to do a cultural exchange with you." She said with a wink.

"I would be happy to pass them on to you, there are four books in total from what I can tell but you still have a lot of issues of your story to read. I'm not an avid reader, most of the time I just read technical manuals and spec sheets for mechs and various systems. Something about a man covered in blades standing before green and purple landscape really captivated me. What kind of stuff do you normally read?"

With the plate passed to her Mei began to dig in.

The innuendo sails far above Yori's head as she simply nods.
"I am very sure he would, I suppose we are technically in the middle of a small one already."

Then her gaze snaps back to Mei
"I enjoy technical manuals as well. Lists, spreadsheets, well organised data. I find it extremely calming and a good way to learn as well. Outside of reading like that I enjoy books on strategy or history."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Strategy AND history? Oh boy am I going to pick you brain about stuff, I have so many questions. Though before I start peppering you with them I should probably first ask if you like discussing theoreticals and practicals."

Mei picked up her glass and stood.

"Can I refill your water for you?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"Strategy AND history? Oh boy am I going to pick you brain about stuff, I have so many questions. Though before I start peppering you with them I should probably first ask if you like discussing theoreticals and practicals."

Mei picked up her glass and stood.

"Can I refill your water for you?"

Yori pauses for a moment until her brain confirms that Mei really did appear interested in some of Yori's interests.
"I enjoy discussing what I have learnt, although it pales in comparison to most academics' understanding of the inner sphere. If you have questions I will do my best to answer, or at least point you towards someone more expert than I."

Handing Mei her glass
"Yes thank you, that was an unusually high amount of sodium."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Oh did you get an extra salty bit, I'm sorry about that."

Mei rushed to get the water and handed it to Yori.

"So, what the hell is a Rubicon? I know it's an old adage with some military ties but what the hell is it and why did it become synonymous for completing a difficult task?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"Oh did you get an extra salty bit, I'm sorry about that."

Mei rushed to get the water and handed it to Yori.

"So, what the hell is a Rubicon? I know it's an old adage with some military ties but what the hell is it and why did it become synonymous for completing a difficult task?"

Yori blinks once as she drains the water before answering.

"It is, or was a small river on Terra. Approximate 3100 years ago an ancient Terran warlord made the decision to cross it. As the river was the boundary between the land he governed in the name of his country, and the country proper it formalised his decision to strike against his government."

Reciting as if reading from a dusty page in her mind.
"The warlord said 'let the dice fly high' or 'the die is cast', there is some discussion over the translation, to symbolise that it was done, he was past the point of no return. Since he went on to win that war crossing the rubicon has become synonymous as a point of no return."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Yori blinks once as she drains the water before answering.

"It is, or was a small river on Terra. Approximate 3100 years ago an ancient Terran warlord made the decision to cross it. As the river was the boundary between the land he governed in the name of his country, and the country proper it formalised his decision to strike against his government."

Reciting as if reading from a dusty page in her mind.
"The warlord said 'let the dice fly high' or 'the die is cast', there is some discussion over the translation, to symbolise that it was done, he was past the point of no return. Since he went on to win that war crossing the rubicon has become synonymous as a point of no return."

"Hmm, I wonder what made him decide to attack his own government; they must have sucked. Thanks for answering that, that question has bugged me for years but I never found anyone with an answer.

So I'm wondering, they say military advances lead to domestic advances and for the most part that is true but do you think the development of the mech has lead to any domestic advances? I mean I know we now have industrial mechs but I'm not sure that is something that was NEEDED over older solutions like wheeled vehicles and the like."

[Yori Hakamada]

"Hmm, I wonder what made him decide to attack his own government; they must have sucked. Thanks for answering that, that question has bugged me for years but I never found anyone with an answer.

So I'm wondering, they say military advances lead to domestic advances and for the most part that is true but do you think the development of the mech has lead to any domestic advances? I mean I know we now have industrial mechs but I'm not sure that is something that was NEEDED over older solutions like wheeled vehicles and the like."

Yori sits and stares at Mei in silence for several long unblinking moments
"Good question."
More silence
"Initial development of battlemechs drove technology including more efficient and smaller fusion engines, actuators and mind-link technology such as those found in helmets. It is difficult to properly consider given the past two centuries of devastating civil war and technological collapse, we are only now slowing returning to what once was."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Yori sits and stares at Mei in silence for several long unblinking moments
"Good question."
More silence
"Initial development of battlemechs drove technology including more efficient and smaller fusion engines, actuators and mind-link technology such as those found in helmets. It is difficult to properly consider given the past two centuries of devastating civil war and technological collapse, we are only now slowing returning to what once was."

"I think this whole galaxy needs a break from war. You folks in the Combine have got the right idea with the honor dueling. There are probably a lot of disputes that could get settled in an arena rather than a full on war if governments had the balls to let it all ride on a single fighter."

[Yori Hakamada]

"I think this whole galaxy needs a break from war. You folks in the Combine have got the right idea with the honor dueling. There are probably a lot of disputes that could get settled in an arena rather than a full on war if governments had the balls to let it all ride on a single fighter."

"Agreed, war is one of humanity's only constants and one of its greatest failings. But I might proffer a disagreement."
One blink
"The Ares Conventions sought to normalise and humanise war. Which limited civilian casualties but also made war less terrible and therefore an appropriate method to resolve conflicts. It is good that war is terrible lest we grow too fond of it."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Agreed, war is one of humanity's only constants and one of its greatest failings. But I might proffer a disagreement."
One blink
"The Ares Conventions sought to normalise and humanise war. Which limited civilian casualties but also made war less terrible and therefore an appropriate method to resolve conflicts. It is good that war is terrible lest we grow too fond of it."

"Yeah no argument there. What do you think you would if you weren't a fighter?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"Yeah no argument there. What do you think you would if you weren't a fighter?"

Long pause.

Slightly unsure "I do not know."
Yori mechanically drinks from her glass.

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

Long pause.

Slightly unsure "I do not know."
Yori mechanically drinks from her glass.

"Really, you've never thought of it or do you just not want to do anything else? You seems wicked smart so I figured a teaching job or a historian or researcher would be your answer. Or maybe a fish breeding business."

[Yori Hakamada]

"Really, you've never thought of it or do you just not want to do anything else? You seems wicked smart so I figured a teaching job or a historian or researcher would be your answer. Or maybe a fish breeding business."

"That is a kind thing to say. And maybe I would be suited for those positions. Fish breeding would be...soothing."
Yori apparently considers this with a blank stare.

"I was always going to join the military from when I was born. It was everything I focused on, then I did. Then all I did was serve the Combine. Then when I stopped there was unfinished business, so I continued to do what I was doing, but now for money instead of personal belief."

Yori contemplates this in silence for a few moments.
"Do you have a dream to pursue outside of being a mech pilot?"

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"If I couldn't be in a mech I would want to be in band...although the idea of living on a farm has recently become a possibility. No reason I can't do both I suppose, at least have some drums on the farm; real drums.

Unfinished business, what do you mean?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"If I couldn't be in a mech I would want to be in band...although the idea of living on a farm has recently become a possibility. No reason I can't do both I suppose, at least have some drums on the farm; real drums.

Unfinished business, what do you mean?"

"Two very different goals, but you certainly could combine them. I believe Hrafnhildur and Sergeant Slaktare both come from farming backgrounds. Would you play country music on the real drums."

She doesn't appear to hear Mei's question for a few moments until:
"It's a matter regarding my old commander. He had a decision to make. Either he could have taken the honourable option, or he could have advanced his career. He chose the second, understandably."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"Oh." Mei had the sense that she had wandered into a tricky situation. "I see, so, going back home is an issue for you too then." She said sounding both sad and apologetic.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Oh." Mei had the sense that she had wandered into a tricky situation. "I see, so, going back home is an issue for you too then." She said sounding both sad and apologetic.

"Yes, until the matter is resolved. But I increasingly wonder if that is possible."
Shrugging slightly
"The lance might never let it go though, we lost almost everything."

[Mei-Ling Zhou]

"I know it's none of my business but do YOU want to let it go? I mean, you are the lance commander so you have plenty of sway in that. But if you seek peace you must first find peace." She said, repeating something she head in a cartoon once and thinking it's deep.

[Yori Hakamada]

"I know it's none of my business but do YOU want to let it go? I mean, you are the lance commander so you have plenty of sway in that. But if you seek peace you must first find peace." She said, repeating something she head in a cartoon once and thinking it's deep.

Yori appears to shutdown for a few moments, ceasing to blink and only breathing occasionally before shaking her head.
"Not yet. What happened was our fault, but it was his as well. It goes against everything I was ever taught to allow him to escape the consequences of his actions, I did not."